House endorses abortion notification requirement

The Missouri House has given first-round approval to legislation that would impose an additional requirement on minors who seek abortions.

Missouri currently requires girls younger than 18 to get consent from one parent before terminating a pregnancy. The measure endorsed with a 117-37 vote Monday would require minors to notify the second parent within five days of having the procedure.

Supporters say the bill would allow divorced parents to both be involved in a minor's decision about an abortion. Opponents say the measure would be hinder minors who don't have healthy relationships with both parents.

The bill would only apply if the non-consenting parent had custody of the child and has not been convicted of child or sexual abuse.